What it was like to be on the LGBTQ+ cruise denied entry – twice
Passengers on the Atlantis’ Mediterranean cruise were just dealt a second extraordinary setback...
Mark
The Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady, chartered by Atlantis Events, was already sailing a revised itinerary after Turkish authorities barred the ship last week from calling at scheduled ports in Kuşadası and Istanbul, citing concerns over “moral values” and “family values.”
The Turkish decision marked the first time in Atlantis Events’ 36-year history that one of its cruises had reportedly been denied entry because of its guests’ identities. Atlantis then announced Egypt as the replacement destination, with guests excited about the new highlight added to their itinerary by Atlantis and Virgin on such a quick turnaround.
But at around 2 a.m. local time on Thursday, passengers discovered those plans had also unraveled. According to a letter distributed to guests and signed by Atlantis Events President Rich Campbell, the company had been informed “early this morning” that Scarlet Lady had “been denied entry into Egyptian waters” and would no longer be able to call in Alexandria.
The announcement came as the ship was reportedly only about 100 miles from Alexandria, with many passengers already asleep ahead of early-morning shore excursions.
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“Most of us who had excursions booked had to be up pretty early; we were getting up around 5 a.m. so we were already in bed,” passenger Austin, from Milwaukee, told GayCities. “I couldn’t sleep so I checked the Virgin app to see the schedule for shows over the next few days and saw a notification about passport distribution being canceled. That’s how we found out. I woke my partner up to tell him. We were just hours away from the port in Alexandria.”
In the letter, Campbell said Atlantis and Virgin Voyages had been “surprised by this unfortunate decision,” noting that the company had successfully sailed the same itinerary last year without issue. Indeed, this journalist was on board last August’s Atlantis cruise, where over 2,000 guests successfully disembarked in Alexandria, having had a resoundingly positive experience in Egypt. Many guests described the destination as one of the best trips of their lives, with nothing but loving hospitality from the locals they encountered.
“Please know that both the Atlantis and Virgin Voyages teams worked tirelessly to make this call in Alexandria a possibility,” Campbell wrote. “This news came as a surprise to all of us, and we’re just as disappointed as you are.”
The company said it is now working to secure an alternate port, while all shore excursions booked for Alexandria will be automatically refunded.
For many on board, the second cancellation has underscored the risks of traveling as a queer individual. “It does hurt, and it is crazy to think about how oppressed certain groups are in other countries,” Austin said. He added that it makes him anxious to travel to certain countries that discriminate and enforce strict laws.
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The latest development comes just days after Turkey’s widely condemned decision to block the cruise from entering two of its ports. Turkish officials said the charter conflicted with the country’s social and moral values, prompting widespread criticism from advocacy groups and passengers.
For the roughly 2,000 passengers aboard Scarlet Lady, however, the focus has shifted from disappointment to gratitude for the opportunity to travel with a loving and accepting community. One of those guests, Christopher, from Las Vegas, says that while the situation is far from ideal, it has been “a reminder why this cruise is so important and so special. It’s a safe space for us to exist and be our true selves.” He told GayCities that while passengers are disappointed to miss Egypt, the mood on board remains upbeat. “This has united the whole ship,” he says. “While we don’t want to be political, we will show our queer joy as a form of protest.”
Comedian Brad Loekle is a regular performer aboard the Atlantis cruise and posted updates on his social media, calling the recent cancellations by authorities “inhumane”.
“I need a moment to process this shifting tide we all feel, globally, against our community”, he wrote. He also expressed support for those responsible for the guests’ vacation. “I will say now how much I love Virgin Voyages for their unwavering support of our community, and express my eternal gratitude for Rich Campbell for founding Atlantis Events, for his dedication to nurturing and supporting LGBTQ+ artists for decades, and for creating the most magical spaces in the world where our community can truly be free”.
It was a sentiment that seemed quite universal among passengers on board. James, a traveler from Sydney, explained that most guests weren’t phased by the actual changes to the itinerary and were, in fact, excited about the new addition of Kotor.
“We’re all having a good time on the ship anyway”, he explained to GayCities. “Of course there’s some disappointment about missed tours etc., but I think everyone understands we’re all on the same boat on this one, literally.” As he laughingly added: “The gays are pretty resilient to rejection.”
Broadway legend Patti LuPone, who is also sailing on the Atlantis charter, posted publicly after the ship was first denied entry to Turkey earlier this week, writing: “I am furious, but I am sailing, as the ship will take other ports of call. I am ready to perform for all the wonderful men on this Atlantis cruise, who deserve so much better than this.”
After an emotional rollercoaster of uncertainty and frustration, her performance is likely to provide a fitting — and perhaps therapeutic — finale to an unforgettable voyage.
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